Tag: Sara Fawkes

How did my life get so broken? It’s a question Lacey St. James asks herself every day. Stuck raising her little brother in a trailer park while she works a dead end job at a grocery store, she has a stalker ex-boyfriend, a bad reputation, and no way out.

And then she meets Everett, whose presence changes her entire existence.

Everett is an outsider to her small community, in town for the summer house-sitting one of the grand mansions off the Mississippi coast. When he saves her in a bar one night, she’s grateful but wary of his intentions. Lacey doesn’t trust most men in her life, but for reasons Lacey can’t understand, Everett is completely captivated by her. He’s determined to show her that life can offer more than she’d ever hoped for, if only she believes in herself. As she works with him to free herself, Lacey desperately yearns to trust him, to move on and perhaps start fresh.

But what happens when she finds out that everything he’s told her about himself was a lie?

Lacey has had a hard life. Until she was 15 she lived in Oregon and had a good life with her mother, father and then eventually her little brother. Then when she was 15 her father died and she found out he was her step-father. Her mother moved them into her maternal grandmother’s trailer in Mississippi and then proceeded to drink herself silly. Lacey has to deal with her now non-existent mother (as she’s usually drunk and passed out) as well as her incredibly belligerent grandmother who treats Lacey like crap.

When the story begins Lacey – age 19 – is with her boyfriend Macon and from his first appearance on the page we can tell that’s he’s a complete ass. Controlling and physically abusive are just two of his finer traits. Ug. Lacey is headed out to a night on the town with a friend when she meets Everett. She’s attracted to him but with all the crap in her life she knows she should really remain friends. After an altercation with Macon at the club Everett gives her a ride home and that begins their friendship.

Lacey is hopeful that she can get her GED and get the hell out of town. She never finished high school after she was roofied and raped. Of course the small town spread rumors about her that make her out to be a slut who asked for what she got. She’s ready to stop being the social pariah but Everett makes her look at herself in a new light and they soon become more than friends. Unfortunately Everett’s not entirely truthful with Lacey as to who he is and why he’s in Mississippi (he’s from New York) and when that truth comes out it may be the end of their relationship.

Breathe Into Me was the story of two people who have serious issues individually finding each other despite their misery. I was happy that both Everett and Lacey had someone to go to that understood their pain and the story was well written but I honestly wasn’t thrilled with the book.

Lacey’s situation was heart-wrenching yet seemed SO horrible it was almost unrealistic. I guess I felt it was over the top – not saying this doesn’t happen in real life as I’m sure it does – and I found it to be a bit much to take. It’s horribly on paper – the only father she knows dies, she’s taken from everything she knows and has to live in a place where she’s hated just for being alive. Her mother turns into an inattentive drunk and then as if that’s not bad enough she’s roofied and raped and then painted as a whore as no one believes her THEN she has a physically abusive boyfriend who’s a controlling jerk? Wow. Just…wow. Everett helped her considerably, and Lacey did grow during the book but I felt the author just laid too much on one character.

Everett had his own issues with his family but I felt that in some circumstances there was no need to lie to Lacey or evade her questions. So he used to live their as a kid and was rich – why was he hiding that? IDK and couldn’t figure it out. He was a good guy though, for the most part, and I was happy he could help Lacey and in turn she could help him.

Overall it was a high drama/high angst story. I couldn’t get invested in the characters too much and that put a damper on my overall enjoyment of the book.

Rating: 3 out of 5

This title is available from St. Martin’s Press. You can buy it here or here in e-format. This book was provided by the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

There are some vacations one doesn’t tell their conservative parents about.

The Mancusi Resort is an island paradise on the Mediterranean Sea just off the coast of Italy. It is one of the premier vacation spots for those looking to get away from the world, to take a break from their busy lives. It has been host to foreign dignitaries and tourists alike, and caters to the needs of each individual guest.

The resort is also known for hosting themed vacations, such as what is in store this week. When I stepped off the ferry, I had no idea what I would find. The very idea of a “Fetish Week” brings so many ideas to the forefront, allowing the mind to race over what exactly is in store.

Alexander Stavros, current manager of the Mancusi Resort and the one who will be in charge of the week’s festivities, met me at the front of the hotel. I can’t think of a better host than the Greek Dom who all but exudes power and sensuality. I’ve been around some powerful men in my day and each one has that same aura: the sense that you’re safe, that they’ll take care of everything.

Even for an independent woman, that sort of energy is extremely sexy.

We sat down in a shaded area to the side of the entrance, still in view of the ferry dock. Alexander is a big man who wears his strength well. I’d been informed beforehand about my host: he was a businessman first and foremost, but is also a well-respected Dominant within the BDSM community. He was the perfect person to be overseeing this operation.

And, oh my, when he just LOOKS at you, immediately you want to melt!

“So, what enticed you to help run Fetish Week?” I asked, grabbing a nearby brochure.

“An old friend enlisted my help,” he answered, “but I am hoping that I can mix business with pleasure this week as well.”

Oh my! I cleared my throat. “Ah yes, that sounds lovely. So, what exactly should I expect this week?”

“We have a variety of activities planned, as well as many seminars about the many aspects of fetish life. There is no one-size-fits-all rule here; each individual is different. For example, I can tell you are a successful woman, but would I be wrong if I guessed you enjoy being dominated in the bedroom?”

I started fanning myself. “And if that was true?”

He leaned in close. “I always did prefer redheads.”

OH MY! It’s hard to talk, let alone think, when this man’s eyes are on you. I fumbled for words, temptation sizzling through me. I think he got the hint when I started twisting my engagement ring because he sat back. “Will you be running any of the seminars?” I asked, trying to mask my disappointment. Oh, to be young and free again!

He nodded. “I will be mostly in charge of the dungeons, while my co-manager Francesca Mornini will coordinate the classes.”

Dungeons? My mind immediately raced to medieval torture devices, handcuffs and whips and chains. He must have seen what I was thinking because he gave me a small smile that made my heart do flip-flops. “You may be surprised by what you find here, but it is best to have an open mind. Experimentation is encouraged, and we try to keep all our demonstration and activities within safe boundaries, unless otherwise requested by patrons.”

I was just about to ask him what constituted “safe” when something behind me distracted him. “Excuse me,” he said, rising from his chair. “It was wonderful meeting you, and I very much look forward to seeing you around our resort.”

His attention was focused on something behind me, and as he swept past I turned to look. At the foot of the ferry ramp, a young woman was frantically trying to pick up items from the ground, her suitcase appearing to have broken. Alexander made a beeline for her, bending down to help her with the mess.

I couldn’t help but smile as I noticed she was a fellow redhead. Somehow, I was pretty sure she would have a very interesting time at the Mancusi Resort.

As I headed inside, I began to get glimpses of what I was in for this week. A beautiful woman walked past me, holding a leather leash over her shoulder attached to the collar of an eager young man. Another statuesque blonde covered from neck to toe in a latex suit was checking in, a young lady sitting patiently at her feet. As I waited in line, I watched two young couples greet one another with hugs, then take the hand of the opposing partner and wander off separately toward the elevators and pool area.

Fling, an erotica collection of three steamy BDSM novellas set in Italy’s kinky Mancusi Resort during its infamous Fetish Week, features Take Me by New York Times bestselling author Sara Fawkes, Teach Me by Cathryn Fox, and Tame Me by Lauren Hawkeye.

Kate Swansea’s fiancée dumps her a day before the wedding. Will wealthy Greek businessman Alexander Stavros convince the BDSM virgin that a sexual adventure is the cure for her broken heart?

Tycoon Luca Mancusi whisks fashion intern Josie Pelletier off to his private resort to negotiate a deal for her boss’s lingerie line. But, by negotiation, he means a long, slow, spicy seduction…

Ariel Monroe, pop-star princess, refuses to sign a contract with CEO Marco Kennedy. She’s furious when he follows her to Fetish Week, although she could use a hot BDSM play partner. If he’s up to the challenge, of course.

Fans of E.L. James and Sylvia Day will fall for Fling.

Fling: A BDSM Erotica Anthology is available from Avon Red. You can buy it here or here in e-format.

We have a special feature for you today, fellow Book Bingers. Author Lauren Jameson recently interviewed bestselling author Sara Fawkes and we’re lucky enough to be able to share it with you.

From Dickens’ The Pickwick Papers to works by eclectic author Henry James, from Francine Pascal’s The Sweet Life (Sweet Valley) to Beth Kery and Opal Carew, the serialized novel first gathered steam in the Victorian era and has never really gone away. That said, in 2012 the format rose to prominence again. One of the first stories to gain popularity last year was Anything He Wants by Sara Fawkes, which was originally self published on Amazon and is now distributed through St. Martin’s Press. I had the opportunity to meet Miss Sara last year in Anaheim, and her enthusiasm for the format inspired me to try my hand at my own, giving rise to Surrender to Temptation (NAL/ Intermix). To help me celebrate the release of Part 4- Tempted to Entice, Sara kindly agreed to answer some of my questions…

LJ: Your serial, Anything He Wants, was one of the first in the resurgence in popularity of the serialized novel format. I know the idea for Surrender to Temptation was sparked after meeting you and being exposed to your enthusiasm for the serial. Why do you think the format is so popular right now?

SF: You know, I don’t think the format ever left popularity, it just fell off the traditional publication radar. I come from a fan fiction background where authors regularly put out bits of a story as they write it. I know there are still some authors out there who, were it legal, I’d pay to read just to get my hands on the next juicy bit of story from my favorite characters. Part of that actually is what inspired me to try my hand at serials, to see if what works in fanfic could possibly work on a more traditional, global scale. I’m happy to say the experiment worked: serials are a viable media, although somewhat confusing to many who are used to novels.

LJ: Both of our serials have an alpha male/ billionaire/ dominant hero and a sweet, submissive yet spunky heroine. Despite a similar premise, however, Lucy and Jeremiah from Anything He Wants and Devon and Zach from Surrender to Temptation are very different, with their own stories to tell. What do you think makes each story of his genre so unique?

SF: You know, you can read books with the same back blurb, written by several different authors, and each one will have their own stories to tell. I can get into the details of popular tropes and trends, but it all boils down to the reader connecting with the characters. If you can hook a reader into your story, get them to love and root for your characters as much as you love and root for them, then you’re doing it right. Similarities are often only skin deep; writing style and how you deal with the plot differs from one writer to another. Zach and Jeremiah might embody similar characteristics that readers enjoy, but how they got there and what they do with the situations presented are what makes each story unique.

LJ: Some people think that the surge in popularity of BDSM romance is a step back for feminism. Personally, I think that it takes a strong woman to submit and yet not lose herself. What do you think?

SF: I totally agree with you. One of the silliest assumptions I see in criticisms is that the heroine is somehow less because she relinquishes control to another individual. There are a number of very talented, driven women who willingly submit; they control so much in their lives that it’s hard to let go in the bedroom. I find women like this fascinating; they have their lives fully under their command, are strong in every sense of the word, yet find sexual fulfillment by allowing another to make the decisions. These are the kind of women I find interesting, and these are the kind of heroines I love reading/writing about.

LJ: I know we’re both big fans of Cherise Sinclair’s amazing BDSM romances. What other erotic romance authors do you enjoy?

SF: Well, for BDSM I’m also a big fan of Lexi Blake’s Masters and Mercenaries series, as well as Kallypso Master’s Rescue Me series. Outside of BDSM I read a lot but have recently gotten into Evangeline Anderson’s Brides of the Kindred, as well as the latest “Curves” (BBW) trend from a variety of authors like Christa Wick and Jordan Bell. I love to read and love Alpha males and sassy heroines, so when I find a story like that I’m a happy duck!

LJ: And just for fun, if Lucy and Jeremiah from Anything He Wants went on a double date with Devon and Zach from Surrender to Temptation, where would they go… besides a BDSM club, of course?

SF: Probably someplace super fancy, but who knows if they’d stay there long enough to eat. Both men have strong appetites…and not just for the food. Whew, those ladies of theirs must be worn out from all that attention!! 😉

Lauren Jameson is a writer, yoga newbie, knitting aficionado, and animal lover who loves in the shadows of the great Rocky Mountains of Alberta, Canada. She also writes erotic romance as Lauren Hawkeye for Avon and Harlequin. For more on Lauren visit her website at www.LaurenJameson.com and follow her on Twitter @Hawkeye-Jameson.

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